Repositioning device for marking wheels



March 24, 1953" I. S GOTTSCHO ETAL REPOSITIONING DEVICE FOR MARKING WHEELS Filed May 2, 1951 INVENTORS MAL (01. I"! /IRSCNY March 24, 1953 s. q'pT scHo ETAL ,6 ,3 RF-POSITIONING b iszv ir crz FOR MARKING WHEELS Filed May "2, 1951 Patented Mar. 24, 1953 Ira S. Gottscho, Milburn, N. 3., and Malcolm Hirschey, Woodside, N. Y., assignors to Adolph Gottscho, Inc., Hillside, N. 3., a corporation of New York Application May 2, 1951, Serial No. 224,117

6 Claims.

ihe present invention relates to re-positioning devices for marking wheels, and particularly to devices for re-positioning marking wheels that are rotated by engagement with the article to be marked.

Machines have been provided for marking successive articles carried on a conveyor and include a rotatable marking wheel located at a marking station adjacent the path of travel of the articles, to be intermittently engaged by the spaced apart moving articles and rotated thereby while eiiecting the marking operation. The marking wheels of such machines may have two or more marking elements arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship on the periphery thereof and it is necessary to provide som means for angularly re-positioning the wheel, during the intervals when it is not engaged by an article, so that one of the marking elements will be then positioned for marking engagement With the article next in line.

The re-positioning means heretofore provided for the above purpose have been burdened with several disadvantages. Among these disadvantages has been the failure to provide any mecha nism for adjusting the speed of movement or return of the wheel to the desired position so that this speed remains constant no matter what the spacing between successive articles or the speed at which the articles are conveyed to the marking station. Further, it has been observed that these existing positioning means impose an excessive resistance against initial turning of the marking wheel when it is first engaged by an article, which resistance to turning may cause the article to slip relative to the engaged marking wheel and thus blur or distort the marked impression.

I It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide re-positioning means for marking wheels of the described character constructed so that the speed at which the associated wheel is moved or returned to the desired angular position for marking may be conveniently adjusted.

Another object is to provide re-positioning means for marking wheels of the described character wherein the resistance to initial turning of the wheel from its re-positioned location is substantially diminished.

A further object is to provide re-positioning means for marking wheels of the described character constructed to afford a relatively simple and compact arrangement.

In accordance with the present invention, the

foregoing, and other objects, features and advantages that Will be apparent as this description proceeds, are accomplished by providing repositioning means which include a re-positioning cam member rotatable with the marking wheel and carrying as many angularly spaced apart rollers at its periphery as there are marking elements on the wheel to bear against a radially movable, arcuate cam follower plate which is urged toward the center of rotation of the ice-positioning cam member by an adjustable spring force and has a length suificient to effect engagement, at all times, with at least one oi the rollers on the re-positioning cam member. Since the cam follower plate is curved, the resistance to turning of the marking wheel imposed by the spring urged cam follower plate is reduced during the initial movement of a roller in engagement with the latter, and the radial distance the cam follower plate is displaced during each marking cycle is also reduced so that the structure supporting that plate may be of a compact nature. Further, since the spring force acting on the cam follower plate is adjustable and determines the speed with which the marking Wheel is I'B-IJOSltlOIlEd, that speed may be varied to accommodate article conveyor arrangements having different speeds or spacing of articles.

. In the drawings, wherein preferred embodimetns of the invention are illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing a repositioning device constructed according to the present invention and in association with a marking machine for marking articles moving past the machine on a suitable conveyor, with the marking wheel shown positioned for engagement by an article to be marked;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view showing the condition of the marking wheel and re-positioning device at the instant when the marking wheel is released by the marked article;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the condition of the marking wheel and re-positioning device after the latter has effected the movement of the Wheel to a position for marking the article next in line;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, of the re-positioning device and associated marking machine taken along the line 4- 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale, of the re-positioning device and associated marking machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing an element of the latter move on a suit-ablaconveyor. past. thetmarking station, it is to be understood: that.re positioning devices constructed according to this invention may, with equal facility and usefulness, be app-lied to other types of marking machines, such as, machines marking by indentation or: by burning, wherein the marking wheel is rotated by engagementwiththe.movingarticle tobe marked. Themarkingmachine I2 is; located at amarking.;sta;tion adjacent. thepath of travelof a conveyor l iisupporting. successive articles, indicated at; A ,.Bi and:C,.for continuous movement,,in the direction. of. the arrow of Fig. 1,, to and from the marking: station. The marking machine I2 includes'v a. frame. member. 16 pivotally mounted at E8 on: a'fixedsupportingmracket.2U which is pref erablyf attachedi to: a". portion. of. the. frame-workv (shownlin brokemlinesimFig. l). of apackaging. machine. or: other; like; assembly, for preparing. the articles to beJmarked. and: for. discharging: such articlesdnsp-acedrelationship onto. the conveyor la. A. shaft 22' (Fig.. 4) is iourna'lled in.

suitable bearings adjacent. the lower. end. of. the frame I 6, and at one end rotatably carries a; marking wheel inthe formof' a printing cylinder. Zfilraving periphera1 bearing rims-it. (Fig. 4)- to; be engaged by the ar-t-icles'asthelatter move. past the marking station so thatthe cylinder 24' is intermittently rotated; Marking elements. 28, having the-desired characters or indicia thereon, are afii'xed by adhesive,- or other" known means, tothe-' surface of the cylinder 24, between the bearingrims of the latter; to' engage the article effectingrotaticnand apply the printed mark to that 1 article.

In order to absorb the shock or impact result i'n'gfrcm' the initialcontactof the' su'ccessive artii cles with the marking wheel, rotation of the frame F 3 about" its supporting" pivot- 18'- is resilientlyresist'edi For'this-purpose, a lug=33 is pro vided on the frame I6 to= threadedly receive an adjustableabutment member'32 anda spring 34- is interposed between the abutment' member 32 and the confronting face of the supporting bracket 2&3 for urging the frame It torotate in the direction moving the axis of the marking wheel 24 against the directionof travel of the articles on the conveyor 1'2 Rotation of the frame 16 in the spring urged direction is limited by an adji1stable=stop assembly which includes a stud 3%;- onthe supporting bracket 20- extending slidab'ly: through astop block38on the frame It and.v carrying stop nuts dw-hich; are engageable with the block 38 to limit the-rotational move mentas desired. Since the. axis of. the marking wheel 25', when the frame it. is pivoted. followsas path. curving: toward. and. awayfromthe path. of the articles on the conveyor, it is apparent that r the; projection. of. the wheelinto the latter path 4 tion of the abutment 32 to increase or decrease the compression of the spring 34.

Since the marking machine [2 is of the type applying an inked impression, it further includes apparatus fo supplying ink to the marking elements 28: carried. on the wheelfl ia This; inking apparatus. includesan ink. fountain orreservoir roller 32 carrying the printing ink in an internal chamber and passing through suitable openings to an inking pad 44 mounted on the periphery of the-roller: The ink" fountain roller 42 is rotatably mounted on a. shaft it carried by the free endiofasuppcrt arin=t8 which is pivoted on a pin fiilicarried by'anextension 52 of the frame 16. A torsibna-coil spring: 5% (Fig. 5) extending around the pin tic-andhaving its opposite ends fixed to the arm. it-and the extension 52 resiliently urges the arm in the direction establishing surface contact: between the fountain roller 42 and an ink transfer roller 56 which is rotatably mounted on the=frame. i5.- for contact with. the marking elementslzs: on the: wheel 25; Inv order torprovide. for. varying thethickness of the. film. of ink trans!- ferred to the marking elements 28, the. structure. mounting the ink transfer roller 56 on the-frame. l5 includes a-shaft 58' (Fig.4).- threaded into the frame i8 andhavinganeccentric sleeve 6!] rotat ablethereonto carry the. bearings. on which the roller itselixrotates. A flangerfil having a knurled edge is provided onanendof. the eccentricsleeve; to provide forv the angular adjustmentof. the-lat.- ter so that the: radial. distance between the axes:

of. rotation of the marking wheel and of. the: transfer. roller may be conveniently varied. A

head? G l-is preferably formed on theendofshaft. 58% to bear. againstthe; flange 82 for holding, the; eccentric sleeve inlitsadjusted position.v

Since the'articles advancedto-the marking S1735..- tion alongtheconveyor- Ii are spaced apartand. effect only intermittent. rotationof the. marking.

wheel 2 it is apparent that thewheel; 211-: may

not bezproperiy. positioned upon the releaseby one article? for; marking engagement with the article:

next in: line onthe conveyor. The i e-positioning;

device itis operativeto rotate the-marking wheel 2% to: the: position,v nearest: to that I at the conclu-- sio'nof. a: marking cycle; atiwhich th'ewheel will; be properly located. for: the: next: marking cycle.

The device It: includes? a; rei-p'ositioning cam: member: 66,. fixed tot the" shaft 2%. carrying the:

marking; wheel. 2-? for. rotation with the latter;- and carrying. rollers. 68; projecting radially outwardithenefrom' to follow anorbital. pathof travel asdefinedby the: rotation of. the cam member.

,. Since the. illustrated marking. wheel 24 is providedr. with: three; equally; spaced apartmarking; elements 28, three equally spaced apart rollers:

$8 are mounted on the cam member 66, with the? latter: conveniently having substantially the shapetofi an equi-lateral' triangle to; supportthe rollers: at the corners thereof- A cam follower plate: was supported for movement radially t'orwardand away from the orbital path followed bythe' rollers 68, in. the" illustrated device such 4 radial movement being vertical, and hasa length.

surficient to-engageat least one of. the rollers at all times The. plate H3 is spring urged toward the centerrof: rotation of. there-positioning cam member 56 tobear against the. rollers 68; as the cam member is rotated with the: marking wheel, and. to: rotate; the camr member. 66, when the marking: wheel is; freed, through. the shortest an.- gular displacement; possible, to astabilized posi.-: tion in which any two; of: the rollers; 58 are engaged? Icy-the. camfollowenplate; Hi: (Figr L).

acsasee By way of illustrating the abovementioned operation of the re-positioning device during a marking cycle and a subsequent re-positioning cycle, attention is directed to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. In Fig. l, the cam member $6 is in a stabilized position, with the plate in bearing uniformly on both of the rollers 68 which it engages, and the article B is just engaging the marking wheel 24 to begin effecting rotation of the latter in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in that figure. In Fig. 2, the cam member 66 has been rotated with the marking wheel, which is about to be freed by the article B after the latter has been marked, and the plate 10 now bears against only one roller, which has moved past top center of its oribital path of travel. With the parts in the condition of Fig. 2, the force exerted by the spring urged plate 70 imposes a turning moment on the cam member, in a counterclockwise direction as there viewed, so that the cam member and the associated marking wheel are further turned to the next stabilized position, when the marking wheel is freed by the article B, to thus re-position the marking wheel for engagement by the article C next in line on the conveyor (Fig. 8. It is apparent that if the surface of the article en gaging the bearing rims 26 of the marking wheel is greater than one third the circumference of the rims, the device Hi may effect return of the cam member 66 to the nearest stabilized position, after the marking wheel is freed, by rotating the cam member in the direction counter to the direction in which the marking wheel is rotated by engagement with the moving article.

As previously mentioned, the articles are fed to the conveyor in spaced relation. However, the minimum space must be so related to the speed of travel of the conveyor as to permit the marking wheel to complete its marking operation and be released by one article before the next article reaches the marking position. The spacing of the articles fed to the conveyor may be varied as desired, but as will be understood the closer to the said minimum spacing the more the nearest stabilized position for marking the article next in line (Fig. 3) is a function of the spring force acting on the cam follower plate 70, and since this speed must be suilicient to effect return during the interval between adjacent articles on the conveyor, which interval will vary with the speed of the conveyor and the spacing of the articles on the latter, the present invention provides means for conveniently adjusting this spring force.

The support for the cam follower plate 10 includes a plunger 12 extending upwardly from the center of the plate to reciprocate within a cylindrical, open ended housing 14 (Fig. 4) which is mounted on the frame I6. The upper portion 56 of the plunger 72 is formed with a reduced diameter to provide an upwardly facing annular seat on the plunger within the housing 14. The upper part of the housing is formed with internal threads to threadably receive the threaded tubular portion of a spring compressing member 78 into which the upper portion 16 of the plunger slidably extends. A coiled compression spring 80 is disposed on the upper portion '16 of the plunger and abuts at one end against the bottom edge of the compressing member '18 and at its other end against the annular seat at the bottom of the portion 76 of the plunger. A knurledfiange 82 is formed on the upper end of the spring compressing member to be conveniently grasped for rotating the latter to vary the compression of the spring which continuously acts to move the cam follower plate in toward the axis of rotation of the cam member 66. Thus, the spring force acting on the cam follower plate may be conveniently varied, and a lock nut 84 is threaded ,on the compressing member 18 to be threaded against the top of the housing 14 for holding the spring compressing member in its adjusted position.

In order to reduce the resistance to turning of the marking wheel upon initial contact of the latter with the moving article to be marked, the cam follower plate in is longitudinally curved, as shown in Fig. l, with the radius of curvature of the plate 10 being greater than the radius of the orbital path of travel of the rollers 68. Thus, when the cam member 66 is initially turned from a stabilized position (Fig. 1 or Fig. 3), the upwardly moving one of the rollers 68 engaging against the cam follower plate exerts forces against what is, in effect, an inclined plane, and the resistance to turning of the marking wheel is substantially less than that encountered when a flat plate is engaged against the rollers 68. This feature of the present invention insures turning of the marking wheel by frictional contact with the article at a peripheral speed which is the same as the speed at which the article is conveyed, so that the inked impression is not blurred by any relative movement between the article and the marking elements. The use of a longitudinally curved cam follower plate has the additional advantage of reducing the reciprocating stroke of the plunger 72 so that the housing and other associated mechanism may be compactly designed. I

Since the location of the mark or inked impression on the article will depend upon, the angular relationship between the marking elements 28 on the marking wheel and the rollers 68 which determine the repositioning, it is desirable to provide convenient means for angularly adjusting the marking wheel 24 relative to the cam member as so that the location of the mark maybe controlled with respect to the leading edge of the article first engaging the marking wheel. To provide for this adjustment in a convenient manner, a split clamp 85 (Figs. 4 and 6) is fixed to the marking wheel 24, as by welding, and engages around a bushing 88 on the shaft 22. A tightening bolt 9!) extends between the split legs of the clamp to draw the legs together for gripping the bushing 88. Thus, the clamp 85 may be loosened to permit angular displacement of the marking wheel relative to the shaft 22 and hence the cam member 66.

While a three-position re-positioning device has been illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, that is, a device for re-positioning an associated marking wheel at any one of three locations, it is apparent that the number of stabilized positions is dependent only upon the number of rollers on the cam member rotating with the marking wheel, and that the number of these rollers may be increased or decreased depending upon the number of marking elementsmounted on the marking wheel with which the re-positioning device is associated. By way of example, the adaptability of the re-positioning device emhodying thisinvention is demonstrated by the.

said axis of rotation to project into said orbital path and engage said high points so that said plate tends to return said cam member to a stabilized position in which two of said high points are simultaneously engaged by said plate, and means operatively associated with said spring means for varying the resilient force imposed by the latter on said plate to thereby provide for the adjustment of the speed at which said cam member is returned to said stabilized positions.

5. In a i e-positioning device of the described character, a rotatable cam member having a plurality of radial high points thereon, a tubular, open-ended housing disposed in the plane of rotation of said cam member with its longitudinal axis extending radially from the center of rotation of said cam member, a plunger reciprocable in said housing and having a longitudinally curved cam follower plate secured to the end thereof extending toward said axis of rotation to project into the orbital path of travel of said high points, said cam follower plate having a radius of curvature greater than that of said orbital path and a length sufiicient to span between adjacent high points on said cam member, and spring means in said housing acting on said plunger to continuously urge the latter in the direction toward said axis of rotation so that said cam follower plate bears against said high points and tends to return said cam member to stabilized positions in which two of said high points are simultaneously engaged by said cam follower plate.

6. In a i e-positioning device of the described character, a rotatable cam member having a plurality of radial high points defined by rotatably mounted rollers, a tubular, open-ended housing disposed in the plane of rotation of said cam member with its longitudinal axis extending radially from the center of rotation of said cam member, a plunger reciprocable in said housing and having a longitudinally curved cam follower plate secured to the end thereof extending toward said axis of rotation to project into the orbital path of travel of said rollers,

, said cam follower plate having a radius of ourvature only slightly greater than that of said orbital path of travel of said rollers and a length sufficient to simultaneously engage two adjacent ones of said rollers, said plunger being formed with a portion of reduced diameter extending to the other end thereof and defining an annular shoulder intermediate its length, a coil spring on said reduced diameter portion and bearing at one end against said annular shoulder, and a spring compressing member threaded into the end of said housing remote from said axis of rotation to adjustably abut against the other end of said coil spring and formed with a central bore adapted to slidably receive the end of said portion of reduced diameter so that said cam follower plate is resiliently urged against the rollers to tend to return said cam member to stabilized positions in which two adjacent rollers are simultaneously engaged by said cam follower plate while said spring compressing member provides for varying the spring force applied to the cam follower plate to thereby adjust the speed of the return to said stabilized positions.

IRA S. GOTTSCHO. MALCOLM HIRSCHEY.

REFERENCES CETED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 'McDonough Dec. 13, 1921 Number 

